Refrigeration



Nov. 28, 1939. D. G. sMl-:LLIE 2.181,59l

i REFRIGERATION Filed'Sept. l26, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l nfl-f ,y

INVENTQR l Donald 6. Smellie D. G. lSMELLIE REFRIGERATION l Nov. 28, 1939.

Filed Sept. 26, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 alzala? 62 Smellze ,f/

' AT1-ORN EY Nov. 28, 1939.

D. G. sMYELLlE REFRIGERATION 3 sheets-Sheet s Filed Sept. 26, 1938 onald 6i 8m ellz'e ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, 1939 artisti amaai ossi-ca 2,181,591 nnrnicnnn'rion Donald G. Smellie, Canton, 0hio, assigner to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application September 26, 1938, Serial No. 231,666

12 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigeration, and more particularly, to an improved ice cube tray adapted to be placed in the freezing compartment of a domestic refrigerator cabinet.

It has been the usual custom to remove ice cubes from trays of domestic refrigerators by placing the tray and frozen ice cubes in a warm place and allowing the cubes to melt loose from the tray and grid assembly or to run hot water over the tray to release the grid assembly and attached cubes from the tray and then to run additional hot water over the grid assembly and attached cubes to release the individual cubes from the grid.

Both of these methods result in the wastage of ice since the melting of the cubes reduces the cubes in size and also, the cubes are wet, slippery and hard to handle. The melting of the cubes also drips water and special precautions are necessary to prevent the water from dripping over the kitchen oor.

The placing of the tray and the frozen cubes in a warm place and allowing the cubes to melt also has the disadvantage that the tray has to be removed from the freezing compartment some considerable time before the cubes are neededb "so as to allow time `for the cubes to melt loose.

It has also been proposed to remove the cubes and the grid assembly from the ice tray of a Adomestic refrigerator by mechanicalv leverage mechanisms and then v use additional leverage mechanism to remove the individual cubes from the grid assembly. -These devices are not entirely satisfactory since .they require the application of excessive force, are. complicated in operation, costly to manufacture and wear out easily so as to necessitate their frequent replacement. In addition, these mechanical leverage mechanisms require rst, the removal of thewgrid assembly and at" tached c ubes from the tray, and-then, the removal of thein'dlvidual cubes from the grid assembly.`

"All of these prior' methodsrequire the re- {moval o fall the cubesand if only a few are y"needed, the remainder have to be storedin a very cold place or thrownaway.

Whena `tray of' water is placed in the freezing compartment of a domestic refrigerator, ,and the `"v vater allovv'e'dto freeze, the tray freezes to the evaporator'shelf andrequires the application of considerable force to remove it. All of 'the prior art devices require theprovision of additional "means toren'iovethe'ltray from the evaporator shelf or its removal by hand, which requires the for removing the cubes from such a tray in which `cubes may beremoved singly in succession.

tic refrigerator having'a flexible member such as "it is also an object of this invention to proL order, and which is (Cl. (i2-108.5)

application. of considerable force, which in many cases, is greater than the average housewife can exert.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an ice cube tray for a domestic re- 5 frigerator which eleminates the disadvantage of these prior methods:

It is another object of this invention t0 provide an ice cube tray for a domestic refrigerator in which the removal mechanism remains a perma- 10 nent part of the tray, and in which only a small force need be applied to remove the cubes from the tray.

` desired.

It is another object of this invention to pro-y vide an ice cube tray for a domestic refrigerator It is another object of this invention to provide an ice cube tray for a domestic refrigerator in which the releasing mechanisml is sealed from the ice compartment.

It is another object of this invention to provide an ice cube 'tray for a domestic refrigerator with means permanently Iassociated therewith for removing the tray from the evaporator shelf, and also for removing the individual cubes from the tray.

It is another object of this invention to provide means associated with the handle used inl handling the icetray for a domesticrefrigerator so constructed as to remove the tray from the evaporator shelf, and'alsol the individualA cubes rubber, sealing the releasing mechanism from the o Vice compartment, said releasing mechanism being in 'the form of 'wedges to lift the cubes from the tray, and. so ccnstructedfas to lift pairs of cubes vide hydraulic means' sealed vfrom the lice compartment so constructed Vas to release individual cubes` singly in succession.

It-is another object ofthis inventionto provide an ice cube traylfor a domestic refrigerator which is simple in operation, which will not get v'outof easy 'and' economicalto I Inanufacture.

yOther lobjects 'and advantagesfcf. thisinven.

tion will become .apparent when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention partly broken away t show the cube releasing mechanism positioned in the bottom of the tray;

Figure 2 is a detailed View of one of the cube releasing members of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of another form 0f cube release mechanism;

Figure 5 is a detailed view of one of the cube releasing members of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view. on line 6-6 of Figure 4 showing the cube releasing mechanisms positioned in a tray;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of another form of cube releasingmechanism;

Figure 8 is a respective View of another embodiment of the invention partly broken away to show how the cube release mechanism and the tray release mechanism are positioned in the bottom of the tray;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 8 showing the details of construction of the cube and tray release mechanisms;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the cube and tray release mechanismsin position to release the tray from the evaporator shelf and the cubes from the individual compartments;

Figure 11 is a sectional view on line II-II of Figure 8 showing a form of operating mechanism for the tray and cube release means.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the numeral I0 indicates an ice cube tray adapted to be positioned in the freezing compartment of a domestic refrigerator having sidewalls II, front wall |2,'back wall I3, and bottom I4.

Positioned in the tray I0, is a grid assembly generally indicated at I5 having a longitudinally extending grid member I6 and lateral grid members I1. This grid assembly may be made of rubber or other suitable flexible material, and

' integral therewith is a web I8, portions of whichare spaced from the bottom I4 of the tray to form a chamber in the bottom for housing the cube releasing mechanism.

As shown in Figure 2, the cube releasing members for each pair of cube compartments is generally indicated at I9 and comprises a body portion 20 with two laterally extending wedge portions 2|, a rearwardly extending portion having inwardly extending lugs 22, a forwardly extending portion having outwardly extending lugs 23 and a cylindrical bore 24.

All of the cube release members are formed in the manner just described except that one positioned adjacent the rear wall I3. The rearwardly extending portion carrying lugs 22 is omitted from this member. The bore 24 of the end member is threaded at 25 and cooperates with a threaded portion 26 on a rotatable shaft 2'I which extends through the front Wall I2 of the tray and is provided with a handle portion 28. Although threads 25 and 26 are shown as single pitch threads, it will be understood that they may be double or triple pitch to reduce the number of turns of handle 28 required to release all of the ice cubes.

Springs 30 are positioned in the space between the lugs 23 of one member I9 and an interior abutment on the body of an adjacent member.

. member.

The outwardly extending lugs 23 of each cube releasing member I9 are interlocked with the inwardly extending lugs 22 of the next adjacent cube releasing member with the springs 30 abutting against the front end of each cube releasing The front cube releasing member is engaged with inwardly extending lugs 3| secured to the tray adjacent the opening in the front wall so that the outwardly extending lugs 23 of the front cube releasing member will be engaged behind the lugs 3| and be pressed thereagainst by the spring 32. The remainder of the cube releasing members I9 are then interengaged so as to lie on the bottom I4 of the tray and the shaft 21 is then threaded through the opening in the front wall I2 through the opening 24 of each cube releasing member I9 and its threaded portion 26 engaged with threaded portion 25 of the cube releasing member adjacent the wall I3. If desired, suitable means may be secured 20 y to wall I3 and extend into threaded end 25 of the end member I9 to insure that the cube release mechanism remains in place. The. cover and guide member 33 is then positioned over the members I9 and tack welded to the front and rear Walls of the tray. The grid assembly I5 is then positioned in the tray and the portion of the web I8 which extends beyond the wedge portions 2| is cemented or vulcanized to the bottom I4 of the tray in order to seal the cube releasing mechanism from the cube compartments. Before bonding the 'web' I8 to the bottom I4 of,

. the tray, a sui-table, low temperature lubricating oil may be provided for the cuberelease mechanism. A packing gland 34 may also be provided 35 for sealing the opening through the front wall I2 of the tray.

In operation, the tray is lled with water and placed in the freezing compartment of a do' mestic refrigerator and the water allowed to freeze. After the water has become frozen, the tray is removed from the freezing compartment and the shaft 21 is rotated by'means of handle 28 which causes the inter-engaging threaded portions and 26 to draw the rear cube releasing member |9 forwardly releasing the rear pair of cubes, Continued rotation of the shaft will cause the outwardly extending lugs 23 of the rear cube releasing member I9 to -engage with the body 20 of the next succeeding cube releasing member to release the second pair of cubes. Continued rotation of the shaft will release each s ucceeding pair of cubes in succession as each pair of lugs 23 engages with the body 20 of the next succeeding cube releasing member. cubes have all been released, the shaft is rotated backwardly to its initial position which allows the springs and 32' to move each cube releasing member I9 to its initial position.v

The fact that the wedge portions 2| are protected from contact with the ice by means of the rubber web I8; the fact that the Wedge release mechanism is always lubricated, theenormous mechanical advantage of a screw thread, and the fact that only a pair of cubes is released at a single time, provides a structure in which only a. small amount of force need be applied to the handle 28 to release the cubes from the tray. Since the rubber web is bonded to the bottom I4 of the tray, the cube releasing mech- 70 anism is permanently associated with the tray and there is no necessity of removing a complicated grid assembly from the tray, and thereafter removing the individual cubes from the grid assembly; and in addition, there is no danger .After the of water from the cube compartment getting into the cube releasing mechanism and freezing, and thereby interfering with the operation of the device.

The grid assembly l5 need not'be made of rubber, but could easily be made of metal and be embedded in or bonded to the web I8.

The embodiment shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is similar to that just described except for a slight modication of the cube releasing mechanism.

The cube releasing members 35 have body portions 36 of inverted U-shape with outwardly extending wedge portions 31. The front end of the body 36 is provided with opposed inwardly extending anges 38. At the rear, the top of the body member 36 is cut away to form a recess 40. Lugs 4| extend outwardly from the side of the body member 36 at each side to cooperate with recesses 42 in a cover member 43 for the cube releasing mechanism. An internally threaded member 50 is suitably secured in the front wall of the tray to cooperate with a threaded portion 41 of the shaft 44. The shaft has alternate small and large portions 45 and 46. The openings 39 formed by the inwardly extending portions 38 of the body 36 straddle the small portions 45 of the shaft 44 and the large portions 46 of the shaft normally lieV within the inverted U-shaped body 36 and provide a suitable guide andbearing for members 35. As shown in Figure 4, the small portions 45 of the shaft increase in length from rear to front of the tray. Springs 48 surround the s haft and one is positioned between the member 58 and the rst cube releasing member 35;

- the remainder being positioned in the space 48 of each succeeding cube releasing member so as to engage adjacent cube releasing members and force them apart. Extending through the rear wall of the tray,` and into the bore of the rear cube releasing member 35 is a member 49 having a bore forming a bearing for the rear end of shaft 44 and a shoulder so that it can be riveted to the rear wall of the tray. Since the shaft is secured to both ends of the tray, the large por- 45 tions 46 form guides for the cube releasing members 35.

In order to assemble the device of Figures 4, 5

and 6, the member 49 is riveted into the rear wall of the tray, the shaft 44 threaded through nut 5 8 and springs 48 so that its rear, small portion 45 can engage in `the bore of the member 49. The

' cube release members 35 are then positioned over the shaft with the openings 39 straddling small portions 45 of the shaft. A spring 48 is posi-v tioned between the adjacent cube releasing members and between the front cube releasing member and the member 50. The cover member 43 is then positioned over the cube releasing members with the lugs 4I of each cube releasing member engaging in the recesses 42 of the downwardly extending flange of the cover member 43. The grid assembly may then be positioned in the tray and the portion of the web extending beyond the wedges 31 bonded to the bottom of the tray. A

suitable seal may be provided between the rotatable shaft and the nut 5I.

In operation, to remove frozen ice cubes from the tray, the shaft 44 is rotated causing its threaded portion to cooperate 'with the thread 41 of member 50 and thereby causing the shaft to move longitudinally. The enlarged portion 46 lying within the rear cube releasing member 35 being in contact-with theinwardlyextending p0rtions 38 will move the rear cube release member forwardly releasing the rst pair of ice cubes.

Continued rotation of the shaft will cause the second enlarged portion 48 of the shaft to contact the inwardly extending portions 38 of the second cube release member causing it to move forward yand thus releasing the second pair of cubes. Continued rotation of the shaft will causel each succeeding enlarged portion of the shaft to engage the inwardly extending portions 38 of each succeeding cube releasing member and thereby release each succeeding pair of cubes in succession. The springs 48 between each adjacent cube releasing member, and between the front cube releasing member and the member 50 are compressed slightly as each succeeding cube releasing member is moved forwardly.

After the cubes have all been released, reverse rotation of the shaft will allow the springs between the member 58 and the first cube releasing member 35 to push the first cube releasing member backwardly until its lugs 4I engage the ends of the recesses 42 in the downwardly extending flange of the cover member 43. Continued rotation of the shaft in the same direction will permit each succeeding spring to move each succeeding cube reieasing member 35 to its initial position determined by the engagement of each pair of lugs 4I with the ends of the recesses 42.

The cube release mechanism of the embodiment of Figure 7 is substantially the same as that of Figures 1,'2 and 3 with the exception of the operating mechanism therefor. The operating mechanism comprises a reciprocating shaft 52 secured to the rear cube releasing member by a pin 53. It is reciprocated by a lever 54 pivoted to the shaft at 55, and having a cam portion 56 engaging the face of a-bracket 51 secured to the front of the tray. A member 58 riveted to the rear wall of the tray provides a bearing for the rear end of the shaft. The lever 54 may b e suitably formed so as to additionallyserve in lieu of the ordinary handle for handling the tray.

When it is desired to remove ice cubes from the tray, the lever 54 is pulled forward causing its cam 56 to engage the front face of the bracket 51 thus moving the shaft 52 longitudinally together with the rear cube releasing member thus releasing the irst pair of cubes. Continued movement of the lever will cause each succeeding pair of cubes to be released in succession as described in connection with the modification shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. When the lever is released, the springs cause each of the cube releasing members to be moved to their initial positions.

It is not necessary that the cubes be released in pairs from rear to front as described in the modifications thus far described, but this action could obviously be reversed by reversing the action of the operating mechanism. The means for moving the shaft shown in Figures 1, 4 and 7 need notbe but obviously other means can be used for moving these shafts. vFor example, a Sylphon bellows having "one end attached to a bracket such as shown at 51 of Figure '1, and its other end attached to a reciprocating shaft with means for expanding the bellows could be used. In this case, the 'position of the wedges would have tobe reversed.

The devices thus far described have the advantage that the wedges being protected by the rubber member from contact with the ice are not frozen into the ice and are comparatively easy to move, and by means of the mechanical advantage mechanism shown, only asmall force need be applied to the handle for releasing the cubes from the tray.

The embodiment shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 1l is slightly different from those previously described, but it has a feature in common in that the cube releasing mechanism is sealed from the cube compartment by a rubber member. A metallic partition member 59 having a'plurality of openings 60 is welded to the bottom of the tray at 6| and to the ends of the tray at 62. Positioned beneath metallic member 56 is a rubber diaphragm 63 having portions 64 extending across openings 68 in the metallic member 59 and held in sealing engagement with the tray as bythe metallic member 59. The rubber member 63 may be bonded to the tray if necessary. Reciprocatable members 65 arebonded to the rubber member 63 beneath each portion 64. Each reciprocatable member 65 has a flange 66. As will be noted from Figure 8, each of the openings 66 and the corresponding members 65 are of different size. y

In the front central portion, the bottom of the tray is provided with an opening 61 covered by a rubber diaphragm 68 held in position by ring-like metallic member 69 having a flange portion 16 overlying the edge-portions of the diaphragm 68 to hold it securely to the bottom of the tray. The metallic member 69 may be welded to the bottom of the tray to hold the diaphragm thereto, and in addition,the diaphragm member may be bonded to the tray if necessary.

A reciprocatable member 1l overlies the opening 61 in the bottom of the tray, and is bonded to the rubber diaphragm 68. This member also has flanges 12 extending therefrom. A grid assembly having longitudinal and lateral grid members is suitably secured in the tray to form a plurality of cube compartments.

As shown in Figure 11, the front of the tray is extended at 89 to form -a housing for a reservoir 13 having its top portion made of rubber or other similar elastic material. The reservoir 13 is connected to a cylinder 14' by a passage 15 normally closed by a spring pressed check valve 16. The interior of the cylinder 14 is connected to the space between the rubber diaphragm and the bottom of the tray by means of a passage 11 normally closed'by a spring pressed check valve 18. Slidably mounted in the cylinder 14 is a piston 19 mounted for reciprocatory movement by a piston rod 80 sliding in an aperture in the cylinder head 8l. `The walls of the cylinder are extended to form a support for a pivot pin 82 for a lever 83 having a loose connection 84 with the piston rod 86'. A spring 85 surrounding the pivot pin normally holds the lever in upward position. The reservoir 13 also communicates with the interior of the space between the flexible diaphragm and the bottom of the tray by means ofl a minute aperture 86. The reservoir 13 and the space between the flexible diaphragm andthe bottom of th tray is normally filled with a non-freezing solution 81 such vas brine er some other liquid having a low freezing temperature such as glycerinor alcohol. In Figures 9 and 10 the tray is shown as being positioned on an evaporator shelf 88.

In operation, the tray filled with water is positioned in the freezing compartment of -a reinto the space between the rubber diaphragm and the bottom of the tray which will force member 1l downwardly and raise the tray from the evaporator shelf'as shown in Figure l0 until the ange 12 of the member 1I contacts with the rubber member 68 above the edge of the opening 61 in the bottom of the tray. This will prevent a further movement of the piston 1I and continued operation of the lever 83 will force the largest member 65 upwardly and thereby release the cube positioned in its compartment until its ange member 66 contacts the rubber diaphragm 63 overlying the edge of the opening in the metallic member 59. This will prevent a further movement of the largest member 65 and continued operation of the lever 83 will raise the next smaller member 65 in the same Way so as to release its cube from its compartment. Continued operation of the lever 83 will cause each succeeding member 65 in the order of their size to be operated and thereby release each cube from `its compartment singly and in succession. The Vmembers and openings 60 in each pair of cube compartments on opposite sides of the longitudinal grid member may be of the same size if desired, in which case pairs of cubes will be released in sequence.

-The size of the member 1I is selected so that' the piston will draw uid from the reservoir 13 through the aperture 15, past the check valve 16 into the interior of the cylinder 14, and the upward movement of the piston will close the check valve 16 and open the check valve 18 to force more fluid into the space between the diaphragm yand the bottom of the tray.

`for removing the individual cubes and for releasing the tray from the evaporator shelf, provides Aa single and efficient mechanism permanently associated with the tray for releasing both the cubes and the tray.

The positioning of the member 1| at the front of the tray tends to lift the front end of the tray and flex it slightly so that the bond between the tray and the evaporator shelf is subjected to a tearing stress. Since only a small portlonof the vbond between the evaporator shelf and the tray -is subjected to stress at any1 one time during the action of a tearing stress, it is much easier to release the tray from the evaporator shelf in this way than lf lt were attempted to lift the entire tray at one time.

'I'he large pisto`n in the bottom of the tray need not be positioned in the central, front portion as shown, but couldbe positioned at one corner so as to raise one corner of the tray and place a twisting tearing stress on the bond between the tray and the evaporator shelf.

The size of the cylinder 14 and the piston 18 :Incassi l may be selected with relation to the sizes of the y mechanisms.

The members 65 and 1I are made of small stampings and vcan be bonded to their respective diaphragms before being positioned in the v tray. i

The'pistonand cylinder can be replaced by a Sylphori bellows pump if desired, with leverage means for operating it. Inwardly and outwardly opening check valve similar tocheck valves 16 and 18 could be associated with the bellows pump so that it could be operated repeatedly if necessary in removing the tray and cubes.

The piston and cylinder together with the operating lever 83 could be arranged horizontally if desired so that a longer lever could be provided to thereby give a greater mechanical advantage.

From the foregoing it can be seen thatthis inl vention provides an ice tray and associated cube releasewhich is easy to operate, easy and economical to manufacture, and in which means are permanently associated for releasing the tray' from the evaporator shelf and thereafter releasing each Icube from its compartment singly and in succession without the necessity of applying.

any great pressur'e, and in which itis unnecessary to go through the double operation of removing a grid assembly and attached cubes from the tray, and thereafter removing the individual cubes from the grid assembly.

While I have illustrated and described only a few embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wishto be limited to th'e structure shown. but to include all equivalent variations, thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

1. In combination, an ice mold having a plurality of compartments., ice releasing means associated with said mold and resilient sealing means between said ice releasing means and said' com-- partments, said ice releasing, means beiig constricted to release iceh from said compartments in sequence.

2. An ice cube tray, vflexible means sealing oi a portion of said tray, cube releasing mechanism beneath said exible sealing means, and means for transmittingiforce to said cube releasing mechanism, said cube releasing means 'comprising wedge means. A

3. In combination, anice mold having a grid assembly positioned therein to/l form a plurality Y of compartments, ice releasin /means associated tween said ice'releasing means and said com` partments, said ice releasing means comprising hydraulic means so constructed as to release ice from`said compartments in sequence.

kwith said mold and resilient sealing means beiy applying means, said' force applying means comprising hydraulically operated reciprocating members so constructed as to release ice from n sard compartments in sequence. y

5. `An ice cube tray, flexible means sealing oiI a portion of said` tray, cube releasing mechanism beneath said e'xible sealing means, and

.means for transmitting force to said cube refor transmitting force to said .cube releasing mechanism, said cube 'releasing means being so constructed and arranged as to release cubes from said compartments successively in pairs.

'7. In combination, an ice mold having a pluralityLof ice compartments, ice releasing means associated with saidl mold and resilient sealing means between saidice releasing means and said compartments, said ice releasing means comprising wedge means so constructed and arranged as to release ice from said compartments in sequence.

8. An ice tray adapted to be positioned on an evaporator shelf of a domestic refrigerator and having a grid assembly positioned threin to form a plurality of cube compartments, in combination with means for sequentially' releasing the tray from the shelf and ice from said tray, said means comprising hydraulically actuated means.

y comprising hydraulically actuatable reciprocating members of different sizes.

10. In combination, an ice cube tray having Y a plurality of cube compartments, and means associated with said tray for releasing cubes from said compartments, said releasingmeans comprising hydraulically actuatable reciprocating members of different sizes so arrangedas to release cubes from said compartmentsl singly and in succession. y

11. In combination, an ice cube tray for zdo-l mestic refrigerators, resilient sealing means dividing the tray into. an upper, apen compartment and a lower `sealed compartment, va grid assembly positioned in saidl upper, open compartment to form a plurality of cube comparte ments, ice releasing means in said sealed compartment, said ice releasing means being so constructed and arranged as to release ice from said compartments singly and in succession.

12. In combination, 'an ice cube tray for a domestic-refrigerator, a flexible 'partition dividing said tray into an upper open compartment and receiving pockets, cube releasing means in said lically actuatable reciprocating members of diflower sealed compartment comprising hydrau- Vferent sizes so arranged as to remove cubesl from said pockets singly and in succession.

' y. 'DoNALD G. stamm. 

